Missing (and Hitting) the Mark
by Kelly L. Martinez
Two years ago, I wrote an article on LDS athletes and Sabbath day observance
(A
Sobering Look: LDS Sports and the Sabbath). In that
article, I cited the actions of Erroll Bennett, a Tahitian
soccer player who, after accepting the gospel in 1977, was willing
to walk away from professional soccer in order to observe the
Sabbath day. League officials, faced with losing their biggest
star, made changes and decided that the league would no longer
play its games on Sunday. To this day, professional soccer is
not played on Sunday in Tahiti.
I was so impressed with Bennett’s story, that I have held it as a model
for the sporting world I hope to see one day. While that dream
may never come to fruition during my lifetime, I realize that
it is still possible to make strides in that direction. I am
very cognizant of the dilemma faced by LDS athletes that wish
to compete at the highest levels of their sport. Yet, the Lord’s
words are clear and irrefutable.
I posed the question then: “Where is our Bennett? Will it take a tremendous event
like the one that took place in Tahiti a quarter of a century ago to change the dilemma of the LDS athlete that
isn’t playing soccer in Tahiti? Will there be a Michael Jordan caliber athlete – LDS or
not – that will make the valiant stand that Bennett did?”
I think I missed the mark. I thought it would take a high-profile athlete
to make a stand for the Sabbath to make a difference. I had forgotten
“that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”
(Alma 37:6).
While desecration of the Sabbath by the sporting world may never completely
cease, there are efforts being made to keep the Sabbath a priority by
athletes. An example of those efforts occurred on July 10 in
the mountains east of Salt Lake City.
BYU junior Todd Miller, son of PGA legend Johnny Miller,
advanced to the final round of the Utah Men’s State Amateur tournament
in Park City. However, before he had advanced
that far into the competition, Miller had decided that he would
not participate in the final round of the tournament because it
would be played on Sunday. After advancing to the championship
round, Miller hoped that the tournament’s officials would postpone
the final round until Monday. Citing the tournament’s 106-year
tradition, tournament administrators chose to keep the final round
scheduled for Sunday. Miller forfeited and by so doing, was both
praised and criticized for his decision.
“What I do on Sunday is way more important than winning a tournament,”
Miller told the Deseret Morning News. “I don't look down upon people who play
on the Sabbath. I would just feel like a hypocrite in my own
heart if I did. I made that decision, and I'm going to stick
with that."
So, instead of combing the headlines for examples of athletes placing
emphasis on the Sabbath in the sporting world, I think I’ll comb
the back pages. I’ll keep you apprised of what I find.
NOTE: Click below to read the more in-depth article on the
Utah Men’s State Amateur tournament:
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595076597,00.html
Olympic Beat
Because of her second-place finish at the Olympic Trials, Rachelle
Kunkel will represent the U.S. in the women’s 3-meter springboard
diving competition in Athens, Greece, beginning on Aug. 14. Kunkel
is a labor and delivery nurse in Los Angeles and is a graduate
of the BYU nursing program. In 2004, Kunkel has placed in several
national competitions including the World Cup Trials (3rd)
and the Speedo American Cup (1st). Internationally,
she placed fourth in the Speedo FINA Diving Grand Prix. Kunkel,
the subject of a past Meridian Sports article,
lives in southern California with husband Jeff, a dental
student at UCLA.
Walk On!
John Nunn will represent the U.S. in the 20-km Race Walk in Athens next month.
Nunn’s second-place finish in the 20-km RW at the Olympic Trials
qualified him for the Summer Games. Nunn, who served a mission
to Las Vegas from 1997-99, resides in Chula Vista, Calif., with
his wife Leah. Nunn’s personal record in the 20-km is 1:24:49.
His qualifying time at the Trials was 1:26:23.
I’m sure I’ve missed other LDS Olympians. Drop me a line if you know
of any more.
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